Control apparatus



Au 25,1970 E. F. KAMBER'GY" 3,525,431

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March'2'5, 19 68 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug-..i25,1970' -'E. F. AMBERG 3,52

' I CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1968 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2wmczflarzzmy United States Patent O 3,525,431 CONTROL APPARATUS EduardF. Kamberg, Deer-field, Ill., assignor to Chicago Dryer Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 25, 1968, Ser. No.715,679 Int. Cl. B07c /342 US. Cl. 209-73 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A plurailty of colored-marker dispensers are disposedadjacent the feed ribbons of laundry apparatus, such as an ironer-foldercombination, adapted to automatically carry out a laundry cycle onlaundered items such as sheets or the like. An attendant energizes anappropriate dispenser upon noting a defect in the sheet being fed intothe ironer. The dispenser then applies a marker to trailing end portionof the defective sheet. A device sensitive to the marker and disposed inthe normal path of the sheet movement energizes a by-pass which removesthe defective sheet from such normal path to a collection point forrepair or discard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention marked sheet isautomatically divertedfrom the path of movement to a collection pointfor appropriate reprocessing.

Description of the prior art The prior art has recognized thedesirability of removing defective sheets from a normal path of travelin a processing line. Such line may be composed of an ironerfoldedcombination which normally automatically processes a fed-in sheet byironing, folding and delivering the processed sheets in neat bundles ofpredetermined number onto a discharge conveyor for desired disposition.Such prior art controls, however, generally utilize signals transmittedfrom a person located at the feed end of a processing line to anattendant disposed at the discharge end who manually removes the articleso that the same may be removed from those finished pieces beingdelivered for use.

Such prior art devices, however, allow full processing of the sheet,including a plurality of ironing and folding steps, although thedefective piece must be normally repaired, as by darning a tear, afterwhich it must be relaundered and reprocessed.

The provided control requires only initial noting of the defect by anattendant after which the piece is rapidly removed from the processingline, eliminating needless steps, in an automatic manner.

SUMMARY It is an object :of this invention to provide a control forwithdrawal of defective sheets or the like from a normal processing pathsuch as would be utilized in a laundry or the like at an early stagewhereby the performance of unnecessary processing steps which must beeffected after repair of the defect is obviated.

It is another object of this invention to provide a control whichautomatically diverts a defective sheet from a normal processing pathafter the same has been noted by an operator disposed at the feed end ofa processing line.

3,525,431 Patented Aug. 25, 1970 It is still another object of thisinvention to provide a flexible control which is readily adaptable foruse with a variety of sheet-processing apparatus, and which may impart anumber of different coded markings to a sheet to readily indicate thespecific nature of the defect noted.

In one embodiment of the provided invention, a dis penser of papermarkers is located above the feed ribbons of an ironer-dryer combinationsuch as would be disposed in a laundry or the like. Upon noting a defectwhich necessitates sheet repair, a feed-in operator presses a buttonwhich energizes a relay coil. The button is pressed after the sheet hasengaged a switch disposed in the normal path of sheet travel.Disengagement of the sheet terminal end with such switch establishes acircuit actuating the dispenser to apply an identifying marker to themoving terminal end of the underlying sheet.

A photosensitive device located along the path of travel of the sheetand in axial alignment with the identifying marker senses the marker onthe sheet and completes a circuit moving a by-pass means into operativeposition. The by-pass means is actuated into a position forcing thesheet to be diverted from its normal path to a collection site where thedefective sheet containing the marker may be repaired, relaundered andinserted again into the laundry cycle. The paper marker should bereadily watersoluble, and a plurality of dispensers may be employed toapply different colored markers which are coded to reveal specificdefects noted by the feed-in operator.

Description of the drawings For a more complete understanding of thisinvention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side-elevational view illustrating anironer-folder combination employing the novel control of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side-elevational view of a sheet member having anidentifying marker affixed thereto, illustrated in the course of passingbeneath an electric eye component of the provided invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side-elevational view illustrating the ironerfeed ribbons and marker dispensers of the provided control of thisinvention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom plan view illustrating the marker retentionmeans employed by the dispensing means shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view illustratingthe by-pass means and actuating mechanism therefor employed in FIG. 1;and

FIG. -6 is a schematic wiring diagram relating to the control providedby this invention.

THE INVENTION 'Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 an ironer andfolder adapted to iron and fold large laundry articles such as sheets orthe like, are depicted in adjacent relationship. Ironer 10,schematically illustrated, bears the profile of a gas fired ironer soldby the Chicago Dryer Company of Chicago, Ill. under model designation GA36. Folder 12 comprises a cross folder also sold by the Chicago DryerCompany, under model designations MLC and SLC.

In the normal course of apparatus operation a laundered article such asa sheet or the like, is fed by two attendents onto feed ribbons 13 ofironer 10 schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. The feed ribbons move thesheet or the like against the periphery of main ironing cylinder "14against which the sheet is urged and stretched so as to remove anywrinkles by padded compression rollers :16. The ironed sheet may be thendischarged from the back of ironer 10 by means of discharge conveyor 18.The ironed sheet then engages feed ribbons 20 of the tension in theribbons 13 is usually adequate to form a support surface against whichthe marker 30 may be urged. If desired, a support plate may be disposedbeneath the upper run of the ribbons 13 to provide a desired stopsurface against which marker 30 may be urged in the course of engagingsheet S. By virtue of the configuration of the bottom periphery ofhousing 28 (see FIG. 4), the bottom marker 30 will be readily pulledfrom housing 28 as the sheet proceeds against the main ironing cylinderof the ironer.

Disposed between cylinders 24 and 26 (see FIG. 3), is a micro-switch 71having switch actuators 72 disposed on opposed ends thereof. Theprojecting tongues 73 connected to the cylinder housing portions 28 areadapted to energize the adjacent switch actuator 72 in the course of thedownward stroke of the piston rod housed in each cylinder. The movingtongue 73 will break the energizing hold down circuit 56, de-energizingcoil 52 of the relay 54, preparing the control apparatus for'asubsequent sheet member.

It is apparent from FIG. 6 that the foregoing description given withrespect to relay 54'and air cylinder 24 is equally applicable withrespect to relay 70 which controls the actuation of air cylinder 26, theonly difference being that relay 70 in addition to controlling actuationof air cylinder 26, also controls energization of the lights 75connected in parallel which are of a different color than lights 60.Components of relay 70 bear the same identifying numeral as comparablecomponents of relay 54 plus the adscript A in FIG. 6.

Referring once again to FIG. 1, it is seen that the sheet bearing themarker 30 will leave the discharge rib- 1mm 18 from ironer 10 and moveonto ribbons 20 of folder 12. Inasmuch as there is substantially nolateral movement of the sheet in the courseof moving through the ironerand onto the folder ribbons, electric eye 38 is positioned on folder 12so that a light source 74 of the electric eye 38 (see FIG. 6), is inline with the marker 30 if present on the sheet moving beneath theelectric eye 38. The means for sensing the presence of a marker 30 ismanufactured by the Tri-Tronics Company of Oakbrook, Illinois, and isidentified as an electro reflective pickup, Model No. AR-200. Thesensing device in addition to the electric eye or pickup 38 comprisinglight source 74 and photo cell 76, also includes a power pack unit 78comprising a power supply 80, a relay 82, and a photo cell input 84which is manufactured by the Tri- Tronics Company and identified asPower-Pack Model P-506.

Upon passing beneath photo cell 76 the change in light intensitystriking the photo cell 76 is sensed as the marker 30 moves beneath theeye 38, creating a change in the electrical resistance within the cell38, producing an electrical signal for a short-predetermined timeinterval. The signal is transmitted through line 81 from relay 82thereby energizing coil 83 of relay 86 if switch member 88 is in theclosed position.

Referring once again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that actuator 87 ofswitch 88 is disposed between ribbons of upper conveyor 90 of folder 12,and the switch will be closed as a sheet moves over the same. Assumingthat a marker 30 has been sensed by the electric eye 38, and the sheetbearing such marker has closed switch 88, coil 83 of relay 86 will beenergized. Disposed adjacent switch 88 of the folder 12 is a switch 92which is normally in the closed position, unlike switch 88, and which inthe closed position will permit current to flow through the now closed,normally open contact 94 of relay 86 (see FIG. 6) to the solenoid of thepiston and cylinder unit 40 of FIGS. 1 and which controls thedisposition of by-pass plate 42. The solenoid of piston and cylinderunit 40 is actuated by current flowing through the nowclosed contact 94and the line 96 to move plate 42 into the dotted-line position of FIG.5.

Current energizing the solenoid of piston and cylinder unit also passesthrough selector switch 98 which may have a movable contact 100' thereofin any of three positions. In the position illustrated in FIG. 6, switch98 is set for automatic operation in conjunction with the power pack 78and electric eye 38 of FIG. 6. If the movable contact 100 does notcontact either of the two contacts straddling the same, the cylinderselector switch will be in an OFF condition, and if contact 100 engagescontact 102, selector switch 98 will enable the air valve 40 to bemanually operable, allowing the energizing current to by-pass the powerpack 78 and electric eye 38. Thus in the event that some malfunctionoccurs in any of the components of the electric system employed totransmit a signal to relay 86 for energizing the solenoid of piston andcylinder unit 40, selector switch may be moved into the manual positionenabling by-pass plate 42 of FIG. 5 to be readily moved into the lowerby-pass position by manual actuation of the switch in the event adefective sheet is noted. FIG. 5 illustrates solenoid 41 employed inconjunction with piston and air cylinder 40, piston rod 43 pivotallymoving by-pass plate 42 through interconnecting links 45.

As above mentioned, photo cell 76 of electric eye or pickup 38 uponnoting the marker 30, causes a signal to be forwarded from relay 82which is of short duration. Accordingly sheet S must close switch 88disposed between ribbons of conveyor 90 of folder 12 as such signal isbeing transmitted.

Switch 92 must be in normally closed position to assure the fact that asheet member (which may be passing through folder 12 in advance of asheet S bearing the marker 30) does not contact the switch 92 so as tobe in the path of by-pass plate 42 in the event that the same isactuated into the lower or by-pass position.

If the sheet S reaches switch 88 during transmission of the signal fromrelay 82, which may be of short duration e.g., two seconds, the solenoidof piston and cylinder 40 will not be de-energized to allow upwardmovement of by-pass plate 42 until switch 92 is closed and not engagedwith a sheet. Termination of -a signal from relay 82 does notde-energize coil 83 of relay 86 since such coil continues to beenergized by current passing through line 106, selector switch 98, lines108, 110, closed, normally open contact 112, line 114, switch 88, andline 116. As a sheet S leaves switch 88, the circuit energizing coil 83is broken.

Since as previously noted, marker 30 is applied to the terminal end ofsheet S, the leading sheet edge will engage normally-open switch 88during the transmission of the signal from relay 82. As also mentionedabove, switch 92,

prevents jamming of a sheet in by-pass plate 42.

It is seen therefore, that an automatic system has been provided foraffixing an identifying marker or the like to a sheet which isautomatically processed by an ironer and adjacent folding machine. Anautomatic sensing device is provided to sense the presence of a markeron a defective sheet, moving the by-pass plate into a desired by-passposition whereby such defective sheet bearing the marker is dischargedfrom the normal process path of a folding machine such as theillustrated folder 12.

It is apparent that certain modifications may be made in the foregoingapparatus which will not remove the modified apparatus from the scope ofthe invention disclosed. It will be noted for instance that the markersensed by the electric eye 38 need not necessarily be a paper marker 30,but other means which may be readily sensed by the electric eye. A spraymeans may be employed spraying a water soluble dye onto a sheet in placeof the piston and cylinder units dispensing the paper markers.

I claim:

1. In a laundry control substantially as described, the combinationcomprising means for moving laundry items along a predetermined path,signal-responsive means disposed adjacent such path for dispensing amarker means onto selected laundry items, moving along saidpredetermined path; means spaced from the dispensing means and disposedadjacent such path, sensitive to the presence of a marker means on aselected laundry item as it moves thereby along such predetermined path;means for directing a laundry item from such predetermined path whenmoved into a by-pass position; and means for moving the directing meansinto a bypass position, responsive to the means spaced from saiddispensing means after a marker means is sensed by said means spacedfrom said dispensing means.

2. The laundry control of claim 1 in which the dispensing meanscomprises a reciprocating applicator which urges an adhesive-coatedpaper strip against such laundry item moving along such predeterminedpath.

3. The laundry control of claim 2 in which said applicator has anopen-bottomed housing with a discontinuous ledge supporting said paperstrips about a portion of the periphery thereof, said ledge beingdiscontinued beneath the strip edge portions facing in the direction oflaundry item movement.

4. The laundry control of claim 1 in combinations with spaced switchmeans through which current for energizing the moving means for thedirecting means passes, disposed in said predetermined path, the switchmeans disposed closer to the directing means being in the normallyclosed position; the switch means disposed farther from said directingmeans being in the normally open position whereby a laundry item isdisposed between said spaced switch means when said directing means ismoved into a by-pass position.

5. The laundry control of claim 1 in combination with means forinitiating actuation of the dispensing means disposed on both sides ofsaid predetermined path, and signal light means disposed adjacent eachof the initiating means for indicating that actuation of said dispensingmeans has been initiated.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means sensitive to the presenceof said marker means comprises a photo cell, and a relay actuated bysaid cell which transmits an electrical signal for a predetermined timeafter sensing said marker means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the means for moving the directingmeans comprises a pneumatic piston 8 and cylinder unit controlled by asolenoid valve, said relay electrical signal energizing said solenoidvalve whereby said directing means is moved into the by-pass position bysaid pneumatic unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in combination with a multi-positionselector switch and a power supply which enables said pneumatic unit tobe manually operable independent of said photo cell and relay.

9. The laundry control of claim 1 in which said marker means are readilywater soluble, and a plurality of dispensing means are employed fordispensing diiferent marker means.

10. In a laundry control substantially as described, the combinationcomprising marker means having a light reflective property differentfrom that of a laundry item such as a sheet or the like, means formoving laundry items along a predetermined path, means for dispensingsaid marker means onto a laundry item as it moves along such path, andmeans spaced from the dispensing means responsive to said marker meansas it moves along such predetermined path for removing a laundry itemhaving a marker means thereon from such predetermined path.

11. In the process for removing defective laundry items from a laundrycycle in which laundry items move along a predetermined path, the stepscomprising mechanically applying a marker means, in response to asignal, to a selected, defective laundry piece as such defective piecemoves along such predetermined path; automatically sensing such markermeans as such defective piece moves along such predetermined path, andautomatically removing said defective article from said predeterminedpath after said marker means has been sensed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,217,987 3/1917 Parce 209 X1,836,113 12/1931 Garvey 10l2 X 1,872,258 8/1932 Elberty 209-l l 1.63,366,040 1/1968 Braun 1012 RICHARD A. SCHACHER, Primary Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R. 20974, 111.6

